Reports from Afghanistan say forces loyal to the Northern Alliance Commander Ahmad Shah Masood have recaptured the strategic northern district of Imam Sahib on the border with Tajikistan.

Taliban take opposition-vacated town near Tajikistan border
ISLAMABAD, Sept 19 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia Tuesday moved into Imam Saheb town on the Tajikistan border after the opposition fled the area, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported.

Taliban Justice Ministry official resigns in protest - Frontier Post
PESHAWAR, Sept. 19 - The Director in Talibanís Ministry of Justice resigned in protest after he failed to comply with the orders of his high-ups regarding political prisoners. According to high-placed Afghan sources

Explosion in Taliban army base shakes Kabul
KABUL, Sep 19 (AFP) - A powerful pre-dawn blast in the ruling Taliban militia's central army base shook the Afghan capital Kabul Tuesday but caused no casualties, Taliban officials said.

Islamabad goes on alert - BBC 9/20
Security has been tightened in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, after a bomb attack killed 16 people on Tuesday.
The explosion at a crowded fruit and vegetable market on the outskirts of the city also injured nearly 80 others.

WFP seeks safe passage for emergency food aid to Afghan refugees
ISLAMABAD, Sept 19 (AFP) - The World Food Programme said Tuesday it was ready to start providing emergency food aid to thousands of displaced families in Afghanistan's Takhar province

Taliban delegation arrives in US
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A high level Taliban delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Maulvi Abdul Rehman Zahid has arrived in the United States.

Turkmen ambassador says it's better to speak to Taliban
United Nations, Sept 20 IRNA-Itar-Tass -- A dialog and cooperation with Taliban will yield larger results than attempts to isolate them

India plan to help settle crisis over Afghanistan welcomed
NEW DELHI, September 20 (Itar-Tass) - Tajikistan welcomes India's intention to participate in the settlement of the crisis over Afghanistan, says a statement of Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov

Iran says wary of outsider rivalry in Central Asia
By Jonathan Wright
NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Iran prefers economic development through cooperation with its northern neighbors, even if it takes time, over the conflicts that would come with outside influences, the foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Taliban commander accuses Pakistani police of abduction
Police register case of sexual abuse against the commander
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A Taliban Commander Tuesday accused Pakistani police of abducting and snatching one hundred thousand Pakistani rupees from him in Islamabad.

Afghanistan's Shoora-e-Tafahum demands end to foreign interference
Islamabad, Sept 19, IRNA - Shoora-e-Tafahum Wa Wahdat-e-Afghanistan, a Peshwar-based council of neutral Afghan personalities, on Tuesday

No plan to increase cash aid to Afghan refugees: UNHCR envoy
MASHHAD (KHORASAN PROV) (NNI): Head of the representative office of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran Carrol Foubert has said that return to Iran of the repatriated Afghan refugees was the

Globalcommunity must acknowledge miseries of Afghan refugees: daily
Tehran, Sept 20, IRNA -- `Iran News' Wednesday wrote that the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), belated pang of concern for

France Edging toward Recognizing Afghanistan's Taliban Government
Summary
In a significant foreign policy shift, the French government invited officials from Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to Paris for talks. By opening diplomatic discussions with the Taliban, Paris

Taliban pressed on rights
U.N. officials urges freedoms for women
09/20/2000 - Washington Post
HERAT, Afghanistan ­ It was nearly midnight Sunday at the governor's mansion in this windblown desert city near the Iranian border.

Trouble in the 'Stans
TIME EUROPE Wednesday, September 13, 2000
fundamentalist Islam in Central Asia becoming a threat to Russia? TIME talks with expert Alexei MalashenkoBy YURI ZARAKHOVICH Moscow

Afghan refugees pray for rain and aid
By Pamela Constable
LORALAI: Afghan refugee women swarmed in close, clutching veils over their faces but determined to be heard. One after another, they thrust forward leathery hands holding crumpled notes on school notebook paper.